To spotlight WOMMA, we asked WOMMA president Rod Brooks to write a quick post outlining the event and how you can sign up.

By Rod Brooks, WOMMA President

When you hear “word of mouth,” what comes to mind? Storytelling? Sharing experiences? Referrals and recommendations perhaps? At its core, the common denominator is people. People talking to people. Friends sharing with friends. Face to face. Voice to voice. And now, via digital messages and mobile technologies.

My first real awareness of the power of friend-to-friend communication stems from a popular 1980s television commercial with Heather Locklear pitching Faberge Organic Shampoo. Some might recall Heather saying, “It was so good that I told two friends about it. And they told two friends. And so on. And so on. And so on.” As Heather’s image and voice multiplied exponentially, the power of a personal recommendation became clear.

That power remains real today. Smart marketers and brand managers recognize the consumer is in charge and able to influence the rise and fall of products, brands, and companies that excite or disappoint. It’s critical that word of mouth, both online and offline, be well understood and integrated not just into marketing strategies and campaigns, but into the overall operations and leadership of your entire enterprise.

On Wednesday, September 21, The Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA)the pioneering association for brands and agencies, is coming to Seattle. It’s an opportunity for marketers to participate in a face to face knowledge forum where brands and practioners openly share and discuss their social marketing successes, learnings, and best practices. The one-day event will be held at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center in Seattle. WOMMA has partnered with the Social Media Club Seattle who will host their monthly event following the WOMMA Talkable Brands Exchange. Those attending the TBE will receive complimentary access to the SMC Seattle reception.

WOMMA is the premier nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing and advocating the discipline of credible word of mouth marketing. Founded in 2004, WOMMA comprises more than 350 regional, national, and global marketers – brands and agencies – who jointly shape how businesses ethically and effectively use word of mouth marketing to enable talkable brands.

Attendees of the Talkable Brands Exchange Seattle will hear from WOMMA members with hands-on, practical knowledge of implementing WOM campaigns, including Hershey, Warner Brothers, McDonald’s, Unilever, Ogilvy, Keller Fay, Brains in Fire, and more. Topics include:

• Measuring Consumer Motivations: The Key to Brand Connection
• WOMMA’s Stand on Next-Generation Ethics Challenges
• Social Customer Care: The Brand’s Role
• Conversation Triggers: What Gets Customers Talking
• Respond, Listen… How to Engage Your Audience
• Bringing SEXY Back to Offline Marketing

Attendees will have access to empirical data that demonstrates what it takes to ignite consumer conversations, learn how to effectively leverage social media as a service and support channel, and be reminded it’s important to bring “sexy” back to offline engagement.

If you are a brand marketer of any level tasked with implementing or measuring offline and/or online engagement initiatives, I encourage you to attend this valuable event. Seats are limited, so register today! For more information go to http://womma.org/talkablebrands/seattletbe/

Coming up on September 29th, SMC Seattle will be hosting word-of-mouth marketing expert Sean Moffitt of Agent Wildfire.
To learn more about Sean you can check out his company Agent Wildfire, his blog on word-of-mouth and social media marketing or follow him on twitter.